Tedeschi and guitarist Derek Trucks, the blues-iest couple around, each had successful solo careers before falling in love and getting married in 2001. Then two years ago, they formed a more perfect union as the Tedeschi Trucks Band so they could spend more time with each other and their two children.

Trucks went one step further: He came up with the concept of a traveling blues show, inspired in part by the Allman Brothers Band's annual Wanee Festival in Live Oak.

"He wanted to get some friends together and play the blues," Tedeschi says. "This has everything -- blues, rock, folk. It's a nice mix of Americana music. We'll try it out, see how it goes, and hopefully people will enjoy it."

The festival launches Friday at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, moves to Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton and closes out Sunday in downtown St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park.

Tedeschi and Trucks, who live in Jacksonville, wanted to give something back to the Sunshine State.

"Floridians have been so kind to us, and we love living here," the 42-year-old singer-guitarist says. "We're just so blessed, so we're going to spread the love."

There are Allman Brothers connections in this festival. Trucks, the nephew of founding member Butch Trucks, joined the Allman Brothers in 1999, and Jai Johanny Johanson (better known as Jaimoe) is the original Allman Brothers drummer.

For Tedeschi and Trucks, 2012 was a year they will never forget. Their debut Tedeschi Trucks Band album, "Revelator," won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album, and they played the White House alongside B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Mick Jagger and performed with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and others in a tribute to the late bluesman Hubert Sumlin at the Apollo Theatre.

"Like I said, we're very blessed," she says.

After the festival, Tedeschi and Trucks will return to Jacksonville and begin work on their second studio album.

"We'll be recording up until the Super Bowl," Tedeschi says. "So far, we've demoed 17 songs, and they're awesome. There's all sorts of stuff on there -- it's a Led Zeppeliny, bluesy mix. Some of the songs are rock, funk, even Temptations-like.

"This album could be the big one."

And best of all, she gets to spend more time with her soulmate.

"We push each other and I continually learn from him and he learns from me," Tedeschi says. "You could say we're just one big happy couple."

<p>Susan Tedeschi is giddy about this weekend's inaugural Sunshine Blues Festival in St. Petersburg for a reason: It was her husband's idea.</p><p>Tedeschi and guitarist Derek Trucks, the blues-iest couple around, each had successful solo careers before falling in love and getting married in 2001. Then two years ago, they formed a more perfect union as the Tedeschi Trucks Band so they could spend more time with each other and their two children.</p><p>Trucks went one step further: He came up with the concept of a traveling blues show, inspired in part by the Allman Brothers Band's annual Wanee Festival in Live Oak.</p><p>"He wanted to get some friends together and play the blues," Tedeschi says. "This has everything -- blues, rock, folk. It's a nice mix of Americana music. We'll try it out, see how it goes, and hopefully people will enjoy it."</p><p>Why wouldn't they? Look at this lineup: the 11-piece Tedeschi Trucks Band, along with Dr. John, Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, Joe Louis Walker, The Wood Brothers, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, Big Sam's Funky Nation and more.</p><p>The festival launches Friday at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, moves to Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton and closes out Sunday in downtown St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park.</p><p>Tedeschi and Trucks, who live in Jacksonville, wanted to give something back to the Sunshine State.</p><p>"Floridians have been so kind to us, and we love living here," the 42-year-old singer-guitarist says. "We're just so blessed, so we're going to spread the love."</p><p>There are Allman Brothers connections in this festival. Trucks, the nephew of founding member Butch Trucks, joined the Allman Brothers in 1999, and Jai Johanny Johanson (better known as Jaimoe) is the original Allman Brothers drummer.</p><p>"I just love Jaimoe's band," Tedeschi says. "He has a fabulous guitar player."</p><p>For Tedeschi and Trucks, 2012 was a year they will never forget. Their debut Tedeschi Trucks Band album, "Revelator," won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album, and they played the White House alongside B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Mick Jagger and performed with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and others in a tribute to the late bluesman Hubert Sumlin at the Apollo Theatre.</p><p>"Like I said, we're very blessed," she says.</p><p>After the festival, Tedeschi and Trucks will return to Jacksonville and begin work on their second studio album.</p><p>"We'll be recording up until the Super Bowl," Tedeschi says. "So far, we've demoed 17 songs, and they're awesome. There's all sorts of stuff on there -- it's a Led Zeppeliny, bluesy mix. Some of the songs are rock, funk, even Temptations-like.</p><p>"This album could be the big one."</p><p>And best of all, she gets to spend more time with her soulmate.</p><p>"We push each other and I continually learn from him and he learns from me," Tedeschi says. "You could say we're just one big happy couple."</p>